US3797010A - Jogging computer - Google Patents

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a portable solid-state device for measuring and indicating physical exercise achievement attained through exercises, for example, walking, running and/or jogging in place or over a distance course in accordance with a predetermined exercise regimen. The device includes a digital computer to which is fed the output from an electromechanical sensor adapted to generate an electrical impulse in response to each step taken by an individual while walking, running or jogging at or above a predetermined rate. The computer counts the number of steps taken by the exerciser and measures the rate thereof, and integrates the product of the number and rate over the period of the exercise. The level of the integral is continuously compared to a pre-programmed schedule of a predetermined exercise regimen, and either audible or visual signal means or both are provided for indicating desired levels of achievement of the exercise regimen.

Description

United States Patent Adler et al.

[ Mar. 12, 1974 JOGGING COMPUTER 3,518,985 7/1970 Quinton 128/205 [75] Inventors: Ronald E. Adler, 1410 35th St.

NW Washington, DC. 20007; Przrnary Examiner-John W. Caldwell Ronald R Bax, 6736 Bowie Dr" Asszstant Examiner-Robert Mooney Springfield 22150 Attorney, Agent, or FIrm-W1gman & Cohen [731 Assignees: said Adler and Bax; Gary Coates,

Ashton, Md.; Wayne Johnson, {57] ABSTRACT Alexandria, Va. part interest to This disclosure relates to a portable solid-state device each for measuring and indicating physical exercise achievement attained through exercises, for example, [22] Flled July 1972 walking, running and/or jogging in place or over a dis- [21] Appl. No.: 276,470 tance course in accordance with a predetermined exercise regimen. The device includes a digital computer to which is fed the output from an electromechanical [52] gg g gg fig sensor adapted to generate an electrical impulse in re- I t Cl d 23/00 sponse to each step taken by an individual while walki 128/2 1 R ing, running or jogging at or above a predetermined 1 1e 0 R F. 272/DI'G f rate. The computer counts the number of steps taken 324/161- 73/507 518 235/9 2 C 92 y he exerciser and measures the rate thereof, and integrates the product of the number and rate over the period of the exercise. The level'of the integral is con- [56] References cued tinuously compared to a pre-programmed schedule of UNITED STATES PATENTS a predetermined exercise regimen, and either audible 3,395,698 8/1968 Morehouse 128/2.05 R or visual signal means or both are provided for indi- 3,454,942 7/1 69 Chamb rlin, Jr. et al- 340/323 eating desired levels of achievement of the exercise 3,717,857 2/1973 Evans 340 323 regimen. 3,717,140 2/1973 Greenwood 128/206 F 3,316,902 5/1967 Winchel et a] l28/2.1 R 16 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 3 I H I I 1, DIGITAL TO [6 ACCUMULATOR ANALOR 20 J ACCUMULATOR CONVER MONOSTABLE THRESHOLD CLOCK J MULTIVIBRATOR Z%{ L 11151 ACCELEROMETER RATE CONVERTER T COMFARATOR RESET Q INPUT (INPUTZ 21 IHTLESHDLD) THRESHOLD) I MONOSTABLE 3 INHIBIT GATE ACCUMULATOR MULTIVIBRATOR RESET GATE 1 DIGITAL T0 L LON FREQUENCY AUDIO OSCILLATOR 23 AEROBIC POINTS DISTANCE a H ELAPSED TIME HIGH FREQUENCY 3b AUDIO OSCILLATOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to the field of physical exercising, and more particularly to the art of measuring and indicating physical exercise achievement attained by an individual in accordance with a predetermined exercise regimen or program.

Routine physical exercise has long been extolled by virtually every medical authority as essential to good health and longevity. Because of modern conveniences and work-saving technology, the average person expends less physical energy today than did his counterparts in generations past. As a result, the current generation, particularly in the Unites States, by and large does not get the physical exercise necessary for good health.

In the past several years, there has been a gradual awakening to the need for a more systematized approach to the problem of exercise. Particularly, individ uals in the over-thirty years age bracket are having routine exercise prescribed by their physicians as a preventive measure against heart disease and other associated cardio-vascular disorders. Numerous recent publications have recognized a correlation between physical fitness and exercise and have delineated detailed regimens or programs of exercise intended to yield the desired results.

Chief among these publications are two books, Cooper, Aerobics, M. Evans and Company, Inc., New York, N. Y. (1968) and Cooper, The New Aerobics, M. Evans and Company, Inc., New York, N. Y. (1970). These books stress the benefits of exercises, particularly running and jogging, which increases blood circulation, breathing, and the use oflungs. The author, Kenneth H. Cooper, M.D., has devised a detailed exercise regimen which produces output or achievement in a point system, the aerobics point system. These books, and others like them, have contributed in large part to a virtual jogging boom in the United States and elsewhere. On any given day, in parks, playgrounds, gymnasiums and streets, people can be found walking, running and jogging to earn their points.

The aerobics system, as well as other similar systems, requires an individual to walk, to run or to jog in place or on a measured track with a stop watch to determine his rate of speed. Thereafter, the individual must refer to tables and charts and make mental computations to arrive at his earned number of points. The problems inherent in such a program are, of course, numerous. Not only does the individual have to find a measured track, but he must make frequent reference to the books and tables, stop watches, distances, pacers, and finally make his computations. Moreover, after running a given distance, the exerciser may find that he was running too slowly and thus not qualify for any points." The exerciser may in some instances run at too high a rate, not realizing that he may be overexerting himself, until he finishes running the selected measured track and then notes the elapsed time. Such overexertion may be physically harmful to some individuals.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a primary object of this invention to simplify adherence to an exercise regimen involving a points" system.

Another object of this invention is to promote running and jogging as a form of systematized exercise by eliminating the need for a measured track, stop watch and mental computations from points system regimens.

More particularly, it is an object of this invention to provide a device for measuring and indicating directly in .points physical exercise achievement attained through walking, running or jogging in accordance with a predetermined exercise regimen.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device which will provide a continuous or periodic indication that an exerciser is moving above a threshold rate commensurate with a predetermined exercise regimen.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device for measuring and indicating in points" physical exercise achievement attained in accordance with a predetermined exercise regimen which avoids the possibility of an exerciser inadvertently over-exerting himself.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a portable solid-state device adapted to be carried by a person and which is operatively arranged to sense and to count the number of steps taken by the person while walking, running or jogging, as well as to determine the rate thereof, and which will make mathematical computations to determine the energy output of the exerciser and compare that output to a predetermined exercise regimen schedule, and which will signal the exerciser to indicate desired levels of achievement of the exercise regimen.

Briefly, these and other objects are accomplished in accordance with this invention by providing a portable, solid-state, miniature digital computer adapted to be strapped to the belt or otherwise conveniently carried on the person of an individual while walking, running or jogging, and which is adapted to sense automatically, to compute and to report exercise achievement directly in aerobic points. By aerobic points, of course, is meant the measure of exercise achievement in accordance with Dr. Kenneth H. Coopers system of earned points, as explained in his books, Aerobics, supra, and The New Aerobics, supra. It should be understood, of course, that while the invention is specifically described herein as keyed to the aerobics point system, the computer of this invention could be preprogrammed in accordance with any other similar point system or exercise regimen which lends itself tomeasuring achievement in specific units.

The device includes an electromechanical transducer, in the form of an accelerometer, which is capable of sensing each step taken by an exerciser while walking, running or jogging either in place or over a distance course. The accelerometer in conjunction with associated circuitry produces a train of electrical impulses which are used as an input to the computer. Preferably, the transducer may be a piezo-electric crystal having a cantilevered weight for converting mechanical impulses to electric signals. It should be understood, however, that other type sensors may be used within the scope of the invention.

The number of electrical impulses coming from the sensor (which corresponds to the number of steps taken by the exerciser), provided they accrue at least at a minimum rate, are counted by the computer which also measures the rate thereof with respect to time. The product of the number of steps and the rate at which they are taken is integrated continuously over the full period of the exercise. The computer accumulates the integrated input data and constantly compares the level of the integral to a pre-programmed exercise regimen schedule. When the level of the integral corresponds to predetermined points on the exercise regimen schedule, the computer indicates to the exerciser the achievement directly in the units of the regimen; for example, points in the aerobic point system. The signal may be either an audible signal or a visual signal, or a combination of both audible and visual signals. Moreover, the reporting system is preferably continual; i.e., periodic indications are given to the exerciser as he attains cumulative levels of achievement of the exercise I regimen, even in circumstances which exist during exercise periods involving changes in the exercising rate. Thus, an exerciser can avoid the possibility of inadvertently over-exercising and need not during a single exercise period exercise at a fixed rate.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, as described herein, aerobics tables from Dr. Kenneth H.

. Coopers books, Aerobics, supra, and The New Aerobics,

supra, are plotted as curves on a chart and programmed into the computer. The curves plot walking, jogging and running speed against earned aerobic points and yield a certain amount of points for running at a given rate for a given distance. Moreover, the curves are exponential'rather than linear such that the yield in points" is greater at the higher rates of running speed.

It has been found that the computer of this invention will report aerobic points within a fifteen percent error of the aerobic tables. This error may be attributed primarily to the variations under actual running conditions from the assumed constant length of stride and average grade conditions programmed into the computer. In the case of stationary running or jogging, the stride rate error is non-existent and the primary errors are due to variations in fitting the computer curve to the aerobics curve and to variations due to battery aging and temperature variations. These errors, at maximum, are about 1*:7.0 percent.

In keeping with the aerobics system, the computer includes an internal clock which advances at a predetermined rate against which the rate of the incoming data is measured. If the rate of the incoming data is below the rate of the clock, the data is rejected and thus does not contribute to the integrated output level.

I Consequently, if the exerciser is walking, running or jogging below the predetermined threshold level, his efforts will not count towards the attainment of his exercise objective. In one embodiment of the invention, the computer will signal the exerciser when he is running below the threshold level. In any event, even if the exerciser is running above the threshold rate, the computer mathematically performs a subtraction of the threshold rate from the incoming signal such that the only data which is integrated is that which exceeds the threshold level. Preferably, the threshold level may be set by the exerciser in accordance with his desire to run, to jog or to walk, so as to exclude signals developed in the last or the two lesser speed modes from contributing to the points which are to be accumu- Iated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS With the above and other objects in view as may hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention can be more clearly understood by reference to the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the following detailed description thereof, and the appended claimed subject matter.

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of an exerciser who has a portable exercise measuring and indicating device constructed in accordance with this invention on his person.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an illustrative embodiment of an exercise measuring and indicating device constructed according to the present invention, audible and visual indicating means being provided.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a second preferred embodiment of an exercise measurement and indicating device constructed according to the present invention, visual and audible indicating means being provided.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are a detailed schematic and block diagram of a major portion of the device illustrated in FIG. 3, and illustrates detailed circuitry for some of the elements shown as blocks in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1, an exerciser, generally designated by the numeral 6, is provided with a belt 7 which carries a portable, battery powered, solid-state exercise measuring and indicating device 8 constructed in accordance with the present invention. It is to be understood, of course, that the device 8 could be carriedequally well on the person of the exerciser 6 by other conventional means.

As shown in FIG. 1, the exercise measuring and indicating device 8 includes an on-off switch 9 for energizing the device 8. A threshold lever selector switch 10 is provided to allow the exerciser 6 to select either a walking, a jogging or a running threshold level. A shaded visual indicator 11, preferably in the form of a liquid crystal two-digit decimal number display, is positioned on the uppermost surface of the device 8 so as to be readily readable by the exerciser 6. An audible signal-producing means, such as a loud speaker 12, is provided in addition to the visual indicator 11. It is to be understood that, in some applications, the device 8 could be provided only with the visual indicator 11 or the loud speaker 12. A three-position selector switch 13 is provided which allows the exerciser 6 to select for display on the visual indicator 11 data representing either distance, elapsed time or accumulated aerobic points. A control knob 14 is provided to adjust the device 8 so as to accommodate for different strides, e.g., short, medium and long.

Referring to FIG. 2, the exercise measuring and in dicating device includes an accelerometer 16, in the form of a loaded, cantilevered, piezo-electric crystal or an electromagnetic pickup, which generates a distinct electrical impulse once for each step taken by an exerciser, such as the exerciser 6, shown in FIG. 1. The electrical impulses which are processed by a monostable multivibrator are electrical signal representation of the rate of change of acceleration (the second derivative a vertical velocity. with respect to time) commonly known as jerk. The distinct electrical impulses from the accelerometer 16 are fed to a monostable multivibrator 17 which responds to the distinct impulses and produces a train of regularly shaped pulses, the pulse repetition rate corresponding to the repetition rate of the distinct processed electrical impulses received from the accelerometer 16. The monostable multivibrator l7 acts essentially as a pulse shaper.

A pulse rate comparator 18 has a first input operatively coupled to the output from the monostable multivibrator l7 and a second input coupled to the output from a threshold clock pulse generator 20. The threshold clock pulse generator 20 generates a train of pulses having a predetermined repetition rate which corresponds to an exercise rate which is to be excluded from the computation of aerobic points. It is preferred that the threshold clock pulse generator be settable to one or another of three rates, the lowest rate being a threshold level for the earning of aerobic" points by walking, the highest rate being a threshold level for the earning of points by running and the middle rate being a threshold level for earning points by jogging.

The pulse rate comparator 18 has two output signals. A first output signal, which appears only when the pulse repetition rate of the pulse from the multivibrator 17 is less than the pulse repetition rate of the pulse from the clock pulse generator 20, is fed via an inhibit gate 21 to a low frequency audio oscillator 22 as its enabling signal. The output of the low frequency audio oscillator 22 is coupled to a drive coil 23 which drives a speaker 24. It is to be understood that the speaker 24 and its associated drive coil 23 may be advantageously replaced by a small, lightweight ceramic transducer of known construction. Such transducers have high acoustic output with low power input. Whenever an exerciser is performing at too low a rate to accumulate aerobic points in a selected regimen, as determined by the output from the clock pulse generator 20, the low frequency audio-oscillator 22 produces a distinct, low frequency output signal which is reproduced by the speaker 24 thereby signaling the exerciser to increase the rate of his exercise activity for example, his jogging speed.

A second difference output signal from the rate comparator 18, in the form of a train of pulses corresponding to the positive difference between the train of pulses produced by the mutivibrator l7 and the train produced by the clock pulse generator 20, appears only when the pulse repetition rate of the pulses from the multivibrator 17 is equal to or greater than the pulse repetition rate of the pulses from the clock pulse generator 20. This second output signal is fed to an accumulator 25 which is operatively arranged to count the number of pulses and provide a digital output signal indicative of the number of aerobic points or the like being earned by the exerciser.

The digital output signal from the accumulator 25 is fed to the input of a digital-to-analog converter 26 which produces an analog output signal, the analog output signal being fed, via the first input terminal of a multiposition selector switch 36, to a meter 27 which is calibrated and preferably includes a scale which can be directly read in aerobic points.

The train of pulses from the monostable multivibrator 17 are also fed to the input ofa second accumulator 32 which is operatively arranged to count the number of pulses and provides a digital output signal indicative of the distance or effective distance, in the case the exerciser is exercising in place. The accumulator 32, as well as the accumulator 25, is preferably adjustable so as to accommodate different strides, the adjustment being made by the particular exerciser. The digital output signal from the accumulator 32 is fed to a digitaltoanalog converter 33 which produces an analog output signal. The analog output signal from the converter 33 is fed to the second input terminal of the multiposition selector switch 36. Thus, an exerciser while exercising may by manipulating the selector switch 36 provide an input to the meter 27 directly representing the distance of effective distance. In this case, the meter 27 would be provided with a second scale which can be directly read in distance units.

The threshold clock pulse generator 20 has a second output, in the form of a train of pulses of fixed repetition rate, which is fed to a third accumulator 34. The third accumulator 34 is operatively arranged to count the number of pulses received from the threshold clock pulse generator 20 and provides a digital output signal indicative of the elapsed time of the exercise period. The digital output signal from the third accumulator 34 is fed to a digital-to-analog converter 35 which, in turn, produces an analog output signal representative of elapsed time. The output signal from the digital-toanalog converter 35 is fed to the third input terminal of the multiposition selector switch 36. During an exercise period, an exerciser, again by manipulating the selector switch 36, may select an input for the meter 27 which directly represents the elapsed time. The meter 27, in this case, has a third scale calibrated in time units.

A second from the accumulator 25, which appears whenever a given number of aerobic points, for example, one (1) or one-tenth (0.1), have been earned by the exerciser as determined by the accumulator 25, is fed to the input of a monostable multivibrator 28. In turn, the multivibrator 28 produces two pulse output signs in response to the output signal from the accumulator 25. The first output signal is fed to the inhibiting input of the inhibit gate 21 to prevent any enabling signal to pass to the low frequency audio-oscillator 22 from the comparator 18. This first output signal pulse from the multivibrator 28 is also fed to a high frequency audio-oscillator 30 as its enabling signal. The output of the high frequency audio-oscillator 30 is coupled to the drive coil 23 which drives the speaker 24. Thus, whenever an exerciser has earned the preprogrammed number of aerobic points, for example one (1) or one-tenth (0.1 the high frequency audiooscillator 30 produces a distinct high frequency output signal which is reproduced by the speaker 24. In this manner, the exerciser determines that he has earned a given point level. If his goal is to earn three (3) points during one exercise period, for example, and the high frequency audio-oscillator responses to each earned point, he simply counts the number of times the high frequency tone is heard.

A second output signal pulse from the monostable multivibrator 28 is fed to a reset gate 31 which, in turn, produces a reset signal for resetting the accumulators 25, 32 and 34, and the digital-to- analog converters 26, 33 and 35.

The preferred embodiment of the exercise measuring and indicating device, as illustrated in FIG. 3, includes an accelerometer 37, an underdamped loaded cantilever piezo-electric crystal or the like. The accelerometer 37 is operatively arranged to ring and produces a series of damped oscillations, one damped oscillatory wave being produced for each step taken by an exerciser. The output signals from the accelerometer 37 are fed to an amplitude comparator 38 via a unity gain, high input impedance amplifier 39. The function of the amplitude comparator 38 is to compare the first derivative of vertical acceleration (jerk) produced by the justtaken step with the first derivative of the vertical acceleration (jerk) of the preceding step. If the signal produced by the present step does not reach a predetermined level, for example 50 percent, of the signal produced by the previous step, the signal is rejected and not passed to a lockout circuit 40, preferably a oneshot multivibrator. This comparison functions essentially as a variable amplitude discriminator to reject low level and spurious signals.

The amplitude comparator 38 essentially passes a portion of the highest magnitude half wave signal it receives from the amplifier 39 to the lockout circuit 40. The lockout circuit 40 is a one-shot multivibrator which produces an output pulse of approximately 0.2 seconds duration for each signal it receives from the amplitude comparator 38. This 0.2 second pulse is fed to a clock control circuit 41 which, in turn, in response to the pulses it receives produces, by integration, a variable direct voltage control signal, the magnitude of which is directly related to the repetition rate of the input pulses. .The variable direct voltage control signal from the control circuit 41 is fed to the threshold clock pulse generator 42 and is effective to vary the pulse repetition rate of its signal output thereby providing that at higher exercise rates a single event sensed by the accelerometer 37 represents a greater contribution to an aerobic point than at the lower rates. The output pulses from the clock pulse generator 42 are fed to a counter 43 which, in turn, provides a divided-by-four output pulse train to the first input of a rate comparator A function of the one-shot lockout circuit 40, in addition to supplying an input to the control circuit 41, is to assure that the device of the present invention is immune to noise signals and other spurious signals which otherwise may appear shortly after the piezo-electric crystal forming the active part of the accelerometer 37 rings and which otherwise would affect the output from the rate comparator 44.

A second input of the rate comparator 44 is coupled to receive pulse signals from the one-shot lockout circuit 40. The threshold clock pulse generator 42, when not disabled by action of the control circuit 41, generates a train of pulses having a predetermined repetition rate which corresponds to an exercise rate which is to be excluded from the computation of aerobic points. As in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the threshold clock pulse generator 42 is a generator whose rate can be varied or set to one or another of three basic rates depending on the type. of exercise involved, i.e., walking, jogging or running. As illustrated, the rate comparator 44 has two output signals. A first output signal, which appears only when the pulse repetition rate of the train of pulses from the lockout circuit is less than the pulse repetition rate of the train of pulses from the counter 43, is fed to a low rate tone generator 45 which produces a low frequency audio signal which is fed to an audio output driver 46 of a speaker 47, the audio output driver 46 has two. other inputs, which are to be explained below, and acts as a linear mixer. The

speaker 47 and its associated coil (unnumbered) may be replaced, if desired, by a ceramic transducer. Wherever an exerciser is performing at too low a rate to accumulate aerobic points in a selected regimen, the tone generator 45 responds, signaling the exerciser, via the speaker 47, to increase the rate of his activity, for example, his walking speed. It is to be understood that the tone generator 47 is not essentially element of this invention and may be omitted.

A second difference output signal, in the form of a train of pulses, from the rate comparator 44 is fed to a first accumulator 48. This train of pulses has a repetition rate determined by the positive rate difference between the train of pulses supplied from the lockout circuit 40 and the train of pulses supplied from the threshold clock pulse generator 42 via the divide-by-four output from the counter 43.

The first accumulator 48 is a digital counter which responds to the train of pulses it receives from the rate comparator 44 and provides, as its principal output, a coded digital signal, preferably in the form of a binary coded decimal signal representing one-tenth of an aerobic point. This binary coded decimal signal is fed to a decoder, In the form of a four-input AND gate 49, which produces a pulse output signal for each accumulated tenth of an aerobic point. This pulse output signal is fed via a differentiator 50 to a three-input NOR gate 51 which gates on an audio oscillator 52 producing an audio tone of short duration, such as a tenth of a second, so as to provide a beep upon the accumulation of every one-theth of an aerobic point, The beep sound is audibly produced in the speaker 47 which receives an audio output from the gated audio oscillator 52 via the audio output driver 46.

The decoder 49 also supplies a reset signal to the first accumulator 48 for resetting the accumulator 48 upon the occurrence of each tenth one of the accumulated tenths of an aerobic point. It is to be understood that the first accumulator 48 is preferably adjustable so as to be accommodated to an individual exercisers stride.

The decoder 49 also supplies each of its pulse signals representing a tenth of an aerobic point to a second accumulator 53 which is a decade counter, responding to the train of pulses received from the decoder 49. The second accumulator 53, in turn, provides as its principal output a coded digital signal, in the form'of a binary coded decimal representing tenths of an aerobic point. This binary coded decimal signal is fed, in bit parallel, to a decoder 54 which decodes the received binary coded decimal signal received from the second accumulator 53 into a seven segment coded signal which is fed to a conventional seven segmented liquid crystal display member 55, a decimal number being produced in the display member 55 which allows the exerciser to read his currently earned tenths of an aerobic point during the period of exercising.

The second accumulator 53 is provided with an output circut which produces a pulse output signal for each full aerobic point. This pulse output signal is fed to a differentiator 56. The output from the differentiator 50 is fed to the gated oscillator 52 via the NOR circuit 51. In response to the output from the differentiator 56, the gated oscillator 52 produces a distinct audio signal of greater duration that the duration of the tone produced for each tenth of an aerobic point. The duration of the audio signal produced by the gated oscillator 56 in response to the signal from the differentiator 56 may be, for example, of about one and onehalf seconds in duration, as determined by the time constant of the differentiator 56. This audio signal is also audibly produced in the speaker 47 used to produce the audible beep mentioned above.

The second accumulator 53 is not provided with an externally wired reset in the same manner as the first accumulator 48 since the second accumulator is a decade counter and essentially resets itself.

When a full aerobic point has been accumulated in the second accumulator 53, the NOR gate 51 receives inputs from both the differentiator 50 and the differentiator 56, but since the output from the differentiator 56 is of longer duration, the shorter duration output from the differentiator 44 is effectively masked, only the relatively longer duration audible tone signal being produced by the speaker 47.

Each pulse signal representing a full aerobic point from the second accumulator S3 is fed to a third accumulator 57 which, like the second accumulator 53 is a decade counter which responds to the train of pulses received from the second accumulator 53. The third accumulator 57 is preferably a digital counter which counts up to five, the number five being suitable simply because many exercise routines are designed to require the earning of five full aerobic points during one exercise period.

The third accumulator 57 provides an output signal, in the form of a binary coded decimal signal representing full aerobic points. This output signal is fed, in bit parallel to a decoder 58 which, in turn, decodes the received signal into a seven segmented coded signal which is fed to a seven segmented liquid crystal display member 60.A decimal number appears in the display member 60 representing full aerobic points.

The third accumulator 57 provides a second output signal indicating that five aerobic points have been earned. This second output signal is fed to an AND gate 59 which has a second input connected to a divide-bytwo output from the counter 43, which is a square wave having a 50 percent duty cycle. The output from the AND circuit 59, which can be considered a warble control signal, is fed to the gated oscillator 52 via the NOR gate 51. Thus, the gated oscillator 52 produces a warbled output signal which is audibly reproduced by the speaker 47 upon the completion of exercise equal to five earned aerobic points. The gated oscillator 52 continues to produce its distinct warbled audio signal, until the device is either turned off or manually reset, by means of a push button switch or the like, as indicated diagrammatically by the numeral 61.

The audio output driver46 includes a battery check input which functions as a check of battery voltage each time a tone is sounded during routine operation. If the battery voltage falls below a certain level, the audible tone signals cease.

It is to be understood that the device illustrated in FIG. 3 may include a selector switch, further accumulators, similar to the accumulators 32 and 34 of FIG. 2, and associated digital-to-analog converters which could be alternatively connected to the decoders 54 and 58 to provide directly readable distance and elapsed time data. Thus, this addition data could be available to an exerciser on demand via the selector switch.

In the event an elapsed time data readout is desired, the device of FIG. 3 would be provided with a separate timing oscillator as its source of timing signals. This is Such accumulators are known in the art. In this instance the digital coded signals from the accumulators 53 and 57 would be fed respectively directly to the liquid crystal display members 55 and 60.

In FIGS. 4a and 4b, detailed circuit diagrams are seen for the circuit elements 37-44, 46-53, 56, 57, 59 and 61 of FIG. 3, these circuit elements being enclosed in dotted lines and provided with corresponding reference numerals. Numeral values for the significant resistors and capacitors are set out in FIGS. 4a and 4b, other circuit parts being designed as to type on the drawings.

While there has been shown and described above possible embodiments of this invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto and that various changes, alterations and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.

It is claimed:

1. A device for measuring and indicating physical exercise achievement in accordance with a predetermined exercise regimen involving a series of repetitive energy-consuming events comprising in combination: means for sensing each of said repetitive energyconsuming events performed, means for establishing a threshold rate, means coupled to said means for sensing and to said means for establishing a threshold rate and responsive to outputs therefrom for providing a positive rate difference output, accumulator means coupled to said means for providing a rate difference and responsive to its rate difference output for accumulating its output over time up to a given maximum for developing an output representative of degree of exercise achievement of said exercise regimen, and signaling means coupled to said accumulator means and responsive to output therefrom for indicating levels of achievement of said exercise regimen.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said accumulator means includes at least one digital accumula V tor counter.

3. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said threshold means includes an internal clock.

4. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said device is portable and adapted to be carried on the person of an individual while walking, running or jogging.

5. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for sensing includes an accelerometer adapted to generate an electrical impulse signal in response to each step takenby an individual while running, walking or jogging.

6. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said device has a self-contained power source.

7. A device as defined in claim 5 wherein said accelerometer includes a mass loaded cantilevered piezoelectric crystal for converting mechanical impulses into electrical signals.

8. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said signaling means comprises an audible alarm.

9. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said signaling means comprises a visual indicator.

10. A device as defined in claim 9 wherein said visual for indicating elapsed time. indicator includes at least one liquid crystal element. 14. A device as defined in claim 12 including means 11. A device as defined in claim 1 further comprising for indicating distance. means for determining elapsed time' 15. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said sig- 12. A device as defined in claim 1 further comprising naling means comprises digital display means. means for determining effective distance traveled by an 16. A device as defined in claim 15 wherein said digiexerciser. tal display means comprises liquid crystal means.

13. A device as defined in claim 11 including means

Claims (16)

1. A device for measuring and indicating physical exercise achievement in accordance with a predetermined exercise regimen involving a series of repetitive energy-consuming events comprising in combination: means for sensing each of said repetitive energy-consuming events performed, means for establishing a threshold rate, means coupled to said means for sensing and to said means for establishing a threshold rate and responsive to outputs therefrom for providing a positive rate difference output, accumulator means coupled to said means for providing a rate difference and responsive to its rate difference output for accumulating its output over time up to a given maximum for developing an output representative of degree of exercise achievement of said exercise regimen, and signaling means coupled to said accumulator means and responsive to output therefrom for indicating levels of achievement of said exercise regimen.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said accumulator means includes at least one digital accumulator counter.

3. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said threshold means includes an internal clock.

4. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said device is portable and adapted to be carried on the person of an individual while walking, running or jogging.

5. A device as defined in claim 1 whereIn said means for sensing includes an accelerometer adapted to generate an electrical impulse signal in response to each step taken by an individual while running, walking or jogging.

6. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said device has a self-contained power source.

7. A device as defined in claim 5 wherein said accelerometer includes a mass loaded cantilevered piezo-electric crystal for converting mechanical impulses into electrical signals.

8. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said signaling means comprises an audible alarm.

9. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said signaling means comprises a visual indicator.

10. A device as defined in claim 9 wherein said visual indicator includes at least one liquid crystal element.

11. A device as defined in claim 1 further comprising means for determining elapsed time.

12. A device as defined in claim 1 further comprising means for determining effective distance traveled by an exerciser.

13. A device as defined in claim 11 including means for indicating elapsed time.

14. A device as defined in claim 12 including means for indicating distance.

15. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said signaling means comprises digital display means.

16. A device as defined in claim 15 wherein said digital display means comprises liquid crystal means.

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